48th Highlanders of Canada

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=The 48th Highlanders of Canada


caption=Platoon Cmdr Mcdonald (with binoculars) and his 48th Highlanders, 1943
dates=16 October 1891-
country=Canada
branch=Militia
type=Line Infantry
role=Light Role
size= One battalion
command_structure=Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
current_commander= LCol Andrew D. C. Paterson CD
garrison= Moss Park Armoury, Toronto
ceremonial_chief= Queen Elizabeth II
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel in Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= The Glamour Boys or The Dirty Four Dozen
identification_symbol_2= [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/Davidson.gifDavidson]
[http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/StewartofFingask.gifStuart of Fingask (pipes and drums)]
identification_symbol_2_label=Tartan
motto= "Dileas Gu Brath" (Faithful Forever)
colors=
march= Quick - "Highland Laddie"
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve (i.e., part-time militia) infantry regiment based in Toronto, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.

Ever since its formation in 1891, the 48th Highlanders have had a longstanding tradition of participation in the life of its parent city, Toronto. The regiment has participated in community functions for over 100 years, in addition to fulfilling its operational duties around the world. Since its inception, the men and women of the regiment have been among the first Canadians to step forward and answer their nation's call. The regiment's service has included Operation Recuperation, the Golan Heights, Korea, South Africa, Cambodia, Cyprus, Bosnia, and Afghanistan to name only a few and of course, both the World Wars and the Boer War.

The regiment is allied with the British Army regiment The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) (formerly the Gordon Highlanders). The relationship with the Gordon Highlanders represents the oldest officially sanctioned regimental alliance in the Commonwealth and small unit exchanges are conducted frequently.

The regiment is nicknamed "The Glamour Boys" or "The Dirty Four Dozen". The name "The Glamour Boys" was coined by the other regiments that served with the 48th Highlanders during World War II in the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, 1 Brigade. The brigade was being inspected by King George VI but there were not enough regulation khaki puttees (leg wrappings) for all the soldiers. The 48th had to wear unofficial blue puttees. The King inquired as to why the 48th wore different puttees from the rest of the brigade. He was told that there were not enough khaki ones for all the units. The King replied that he liked the blue puttees better and that they should keep them. The 48th Highlanders continued to wear blue puttees until battledress was eventually phased out. The nickname "Dirty Four Dozen" is a play on "The Dirty Dozen" and "48" being equivalent to four dozen.

The regiment provided a Guard of Honour for the G7 summit in 1988, a full Royal Honour Guard for Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 as well as the Royal Winter Fair, annually. The Regimental Colour Party has marched in events as far afield as Prince Edward Island and the United States, and remains in great demand as a living example of the pageantry and gallantry of the Highland regimental tradition.

The regiment's Military Band and the pipes and drums have played at every Toronto Maple Leafs home opening game at both Maple Leaf Gardens and the Air Canada Centre. The bands were requested by Conn Smythe, who had been a major in the First World War, to play at the opening of the new Maple Leaf Gardens on November 12 1931.

The regiment's motto is "Dileas gu brath", which is Gaelic for "faithful forever". The regimental tartan is the Davidson, but pipers wear the Stewart of Fingask. The regiment's Colonel-in-Chief is Queen Elizabeth II.

The regiment supports two cadet corps. These are the 48th Highlanders Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, which is based in the same armoury as the regiment itself, and 142 St. Andrew's College Highland Cadet Corps, based in Aurora as one of the mandatory activities for students of St. Andrew's College.

Battle Honours (49)

Early History
* SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900

First World War
*YPRES, 1915,'17, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, FESTUBERT, 1915, MOUNT SORREL, SOMME, 1916, Pozières, Thiepval, Ancre Heights, Arras, 1917,'18, VIMY, 1917, Arleux, Scarpe, 1917,'18, HILL 70, PASSCHENDAELE, AMIENS, DROCOURT-QUÉANT, Hindenburg Line, CANAL DU NORD, Pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders, 1915-1918

Second World War
*LANDING IN SICILY, Valguarnera, ASSORO, Agira, Adrano, Regalbuto, Sicily, 1943, Landing at Reggio, CAMPOBASSO, Torella, San Leonardo, The Gully, ORTONA, San Nicola - San Tommaso, Cassino II, Gustav Line, LIRI VALLEY, HITLER LINE, GOTHIC LINE, LAMONE CROSSING, Misano Ridge, RIMINI LINE, San Martino - San Lorenzo, Fosso Vecchio, Italy, 1943-1945, APELDOORN, North-West Europe, 1945

Alliances

*GBR - The Highlanders

Order of precedence

External links

* [http://www.army.dnd.ca/48highlanders/main.html Official Army site]
* [http://www.48highlanders.com/ Regimental site]
* [http://www.48highlanders.com/museum.htm Museum site]
* [http://regimentalpipers.com/48pd/ Pipe Band site]
* [http://kilby.sac.on.ca/ActivitiesClubs/cadets/ 142 St. Andrew's College Cadet Corps]